Editor's Picks from The Economist

<p>A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. For decades it made sense to slowly pay down a mortgage over time, but that is <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/02/13/why-you-should-repay-your-mortgage-early?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=editorspicks&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">no longer the case.</a> Rising interest rates mean the smart thing to do is pay off your mortgage early.</p><br><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>.</em></p><br><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Narendra Modi may well be the most popular politician on the planet. India’s prime minister is eyeing a third term atop the world’s biggest democracy. </p><br><p>A tea-seller’s son, Mr Modi began life an outsider. The man behind the political phenomenon remains hard to fathom. India has become an economic powerhouse during his ten years in charge. But he’s also the frontman for a chauvinistic Hindu nationalist dogma. </p><br><p>Can Mr Modi continue to balance both parts of his agenda and finish the job of turning India into a superpower? <em>The Economist</em>’s Avantika Chilkoti finds out what makes him tick. </p><br><p>Launching June 2024.</p><br><p>To listen to the full series, subscribe to <a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Economist Podcasts+</a>.</p><br><p>If you’re already a subscriber to <em>The Economist</em>, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our <a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAQs</a> page or watch our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">video</a> explaining how to link your account.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the <a href="https://www.economist.com/weeklyedition/2023-10-21" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">latest issue of <em>The Economist</em></a>. This week, why <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/10/19/the-stakes-could-hardly-be-higher-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=editorspicks&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">only America can save Israel and Gaza</a> from a greater catastrophe. Also, the <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/10/17/poland-shows-that-populists-can-be-beaten?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=editorspicks&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">recent election in Poland</a> offers a lesson in how to push back on populism (10:30) and the <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2023/10/17/its-not-just-paris-bedbugs-are-resurgent-everywhere?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=editorspicks&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">resurgence of bedbugs</a>, beyond the hype (16:00).</p><br><p>Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ now and get 50% off your subscription with our <a href="https://www.economist.com/podcastsplus-editorpicks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">limited time offer</a>.</p><br><p>If you’re already a subscriber to <em>The Economist</em>, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.</p><br><p>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+ please visit our <a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAQs page</a> or watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVSj8LEZw34" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">our video</a> explaining how to link your account.</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>